Tear-off device for opening drink cans

ABSTRACT

A tear-off opening device for drink cans by means of a tab ( 1 ) with grip device ( 2 ) for tearing, comprising, underneath the tab ( 1 ), a shaped lamina ( 4 ), secured underneath the lid ( 6 ) for a segment ( 41 ) which partially surrounds the edge of the opening ( 3 ), whilst at least a remaining segment ( 42 ) stays free, the lamina ( 4 ) having a conformation that is able to vary from a first stable configuration in which, with the can closed, it is drawn up underneath the tab ( 1 ), to successive and transitory configurations that take place during the extraction of the lamina ( 4 ) through the opening ( 3 ) and to a final stable configuration in which, with the extraction completed, the lamina ( 4 ) constitutes a stable spout ( 8 ) with related opening ( 9 ) whose free edges belong to the free segment ( 42 ) of the lamina ( 4 ).

The present application is the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371 ofinternational application PCT/IB00/00365, filed Mar. 28, 2000 whichdesignated the United States, and which international application waspublished under PCT Article 21(2) in the English language.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a tear-off device for opening drinkcans, comprising a tab with grip device for tearing, able to place incommunication the interior with the exterior of the can, by means of acorresponding opening.

BACKGROUND ART

Devices for opening drink cans are generally constituted by a gripsystem, usually in the form of a ring, welded or connected to a tear-offtab of various shapes and sizes. The traction of the grip devices causesthe tab to be tom off and an opening to be obtained in the lid of thecan, which allows the discharge of the drink contained therein.

In the prior art for the practical realisation of such a device morepertinent to the present invention, the grip device, in rising, dragsthe tab with it, tearing it from the lid until its full detachment.Depending on the conformation of the tab, the opening thereby producedcan have various shapes and involve in full or in part the area of thelid of the can. The most common realisations, in cans or containers ofcylindrical shape, lead to the formation of openings that are eithercircular, on in the form of a strip of variable length. The tearingaction, if it is not sufficiently controlled, is quite sudden and can,especially if the tab is considerably large relative to the lid, behazardous: the edges of the tab are generally sharp and, therefore,potentially able to inflict cuts. The edges of the opening therebyproduced are also sharp and, hence, potentially able to inflict cuts tothe person who handles the open container or places his/her lips closeto the opening to drink its content without spilling it. When it flowsout of the opening, the drink generally comes in contact with the outerpart of the lid. Moreover, in order to drink the content of the candirectly, one is forced to place one's lips close both to the externalpart of the lid and to the cylindrical walls of the container. The drinkmay thus be contaminated or a non hygienic contact for one's lips maytake place.

A subsequent and alternative realisation provides for the grip device,in rising, to thrust the tab (which in this case usually has roundedshape and limited size) inside the container. In this way, the openingis obtained without removing the tab, thereby avoiding the risk ofinjuries. This solves the problem of the safety of the opening, but notthe hygienic problem, which in fact is aggravated: in flowing out of theopening, the drink still generally comes in contact with the externalpart of the lid; in order to drink the content of the can directly, oneis still forced to place one's lips both to the external part of the lidand to the cylindrical walls of the container; in addition, the tab isimmersed in the drink with the consequent potential contaminationthereof. <Insert page 2a>

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The aim of the present invention, therefore, is to eliminate theaforementioned drawbacks. The invention, as it is characterised by theclaims, solves the problem of providing a tear-off opening device fordrink cans, comprising a tab with grip device for tearing, able to placein communication the interior with the exterior of the can, by means ofa corresponding opening and automatically to form a stable spout,provided with opening for the outflow of the drink, without the drink ora drinker's lips coming in contact with parts of the can exposed to theexternal environment before the opening of the can itself.

The advantages obtained by means of the present invention essentialconsist of the fact that, thanks to the presence and to the particularway whereby the spout is formed, the following are guaranteed: theorderly and uniform outflow of the drink from the can; the hygiene ofuse of the can for pouring the drink it contains into another container;the hygienic contact for the lips when drinking directly from the can.Also prevented, during the outflow, are spillage or discharges of drinkoutside In document U.S. Pat. No. 3,473,705 a container is disclosedhaving a pull tab type tear strip for providing an opening in thecontainer on removal of said tear strip, wherein, when the container isclosed, a substantially flat flexible body portion is located within thecontainer adjacent and in substantial parallelism with the underside ofthe lid of the container. In that configuration, the body portion issupported at one end by the tear strip itself and, at the opposite endby a bead connected to the lid. Tearing off the strip causes said bodyportion to be raised and deformed from its substantially flat conditionto a spout-like shape by cooperation between the tearing action and theengagement with the sides of the opening formed on removal of the tearstrip. During this operation, the opposite ends of the bead move towardthe opening, to let two notches engage the edge of the opening itself,thus providing a stop for limiting further movement of the body portion,so that tear strip may break-away therefrom without pulling the spoutfrom the container. Only part of the bead (namely the central part)remains connected to the lid and retains one end of the body portionwithin the container. The risk to separate the spout from the can is notcompletely avoided, due to the conformation of the notches and to thesmall connection between the bead and the lid. The spout has a structurewhich is interrupted in correspondence of the edges of the opening and,therefore, there is the risk of spilling the liquid contained in the canalong the external side of the lateral parts of the spout itself, whenthe liquid is poured for drinking. the spout. Another advantage obtainedby means of the present invention essentially consists of the fact that,thanks to the characteristics of the spout and to the succession oftransitory configurations followed during the phase whereby it isformed, it is possible to minimise the risk of cuts or small injurieswhen tearing the tab or contacting the opening with the lips.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described more in detail hereafter with the aid of thedrawings which represent embodiments provided purely by way of nonlimiting examples, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of the area of the lid of the can, illustratingthe tearing dynamics of the tab, as well as the initial configuration,an intermediate transitory configuration during extraction and the finalshape configuration of the spout after extraction;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the area of the lid of the can of FIG. 1above;

FIG. 3 shows a plan development of the lamina that is shaped into aspout upon opening;

FIG. 4 is a perspective spatial representation of the lamina shaped as aspout removed from the can.

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the lid of the can, highlighting thetear-off tab, the corresponding grip device and the opening underlyingthe tab;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the area of the cover of the can,illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 shows the manner in which the spout is used;

FIG. 8 shows a plan development of the lamina used as per FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

As the figures show, the present invention is constituted, in principle,by a tear-off opening device for drink cans, comprising a tab (1) withgrip device (2) for tearing, able to place in communication the interiorwith the exterior of the can, by means of a corresponding opening (3).Underneath the tab (1) is situated a lamina (4), shaped and securedunderneath the lid (6) for a segment (41) which partially surrounds theedge of the opening (3), whilst at least a remaining segment (42) staysfree. As shown in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2, the lamina (4) has a variableconformation. It passes from a first stable configuration in which, withthe can closed, it is drawn up underneath the tab (1), to successive andtransitory configurations which take place during the extraction of thelamina (4) through the opening (3) and to a final, stable configuration,when the extraction is complete. In this stable final configuration, thelamina (4) forms a stable spout (8), with related opening (9) whose freeedges belong to the free segment (42) of the lamina (4). Until the timeof opening, therefore, the lamina (4) does not come in contact with theexterior. Hence, once conformed, the spout (8) guarantees the hygienicoutflow of the drink, during which, as shown in FIG. 7, the drink itselfdoes not come in contact with any of the exterior parts of the can. Thespout (8), moreover, offers, to the lips of those who drink the contentusing it directly, a hygienic contact area, constituted by the extractedpart of the free segment (42) of the lamina (4). Through its opening(9), the spout (8) also guarantees the entry of air into the can and,therefore, the orderly and uniform outflow of the drink. In a preferredembodiment of the present invention, the lamina (4), as shown in FIG. 3and in FIG. 4, ideally comprises three parts: a central part (5)corresponding to the opening (3) produced by tearing the tab (1) off,two lateral parts (7 a, 7 b), symmetrical relative to the central part(5). These parts (5, 7 a, 7 b) are secured to the inner face of the lid(6), along their related portion of the segment (42)of the lamina (4),as shown in the aforesaid FIGS. 3 and 8. Said securing can be obtainedin several ways: by junction, gluing or welding; in spots or incontinuous segments. In a preferred and more effective embodiment of thepresent invention, the union is obtained by means of a hermeticallysealed continuous structure, obtained by joining the segment (11) of thelamina (4) to the inner face of the lid (6). The lamina (4) can beobtained using metallic, plastic, or rubber materials. Such materialsmust be easy to shape, deform and fold without breaking, whilemaintaining a certain mechanical solidity. Moreover, they must not betoxic or polluting for the drink contained in the can. In its firststable configuration, the lamina (4) is folded in correspondence withthe lines (16 a, 16 b) on the border between its central part (5) andits lateral parts (7 a, 7 b). The lateral parts (7 a, 7 b) therebyproject inwards. In turn, they are also folded along the lines (17 a, 17b) towards the inner part of the lid (6) in order to rejoin said lid (6)along the segment portion (41) of the lamina (4), to obtain the unionwith the lid (6) itself. The portion of the free segment (42) of thelamina (4) pertaining to the lateral parts (7 a, 7 b) thus projectsinwards, allowing the central part (5) of the lamina (4) to remainunderneath the tab (1) itself. The creases along the lines (16 a, 16 b,17 a, 17 b) and the resulting shaping of the lamina (4) cause thecentral part (5) of the lamina (4), in non-extracted position, to remainbarely underneath and parallel to the plane of the lid (6), therebyoffering an ample contact area to the tear-off tab (1). In theintermediate configurations, during extraction, the central part (5) islifted, dragging therewith, through the opening (3), the rest of thelamina (4). In the final stable configuration of the lamina (4),corresponding to the completed full extraction, the portions of thelateral parts (7 a, 7 b), lying between the junction (11) and the creaselines (17 a, 17 b), come to rest on the inner face of the lid (6). Thisprevents, together with the presence of the union (11), the removal ofthe lamina (4) from the can. The central part (5), at its maximumextraction, constitutes the bottom of the spout (8), whose side wallsare constituted by the extracted portion of the lateral parts (7 a, 7 b)of the lamina (4). The free edges of the bottom (14 c) and of the sidewalls (14 a, 14 b) of the spout (8) define the contour of the opening(9) for the outflow of the drink. In a preferred and more effectiveembodiment of the invention, the tear-off tab (1) is secured to thelamina (4). This union (18) can be obtained in various ways and withvarious techniques. It allows, upon tearing the tab off, to extract thelamina (4) automatically and, thus, to configure the spout (8)automatically. In this case, the central part (5) of the lamina (4), innon extracted position, can close the entire opening (3), providing alonger and thus more useful spout (8). The union (18) between tab (1)and lamina (4) must at the same time be sufficiently strong to allow theentire extraction of the lamina (4) and sufficiently weak to yield,after the extraction of the lamina (4) and the stable formation of thespout (8). In an alternative embodiment of the present invention thecentral part (5) of the lamina (4), in non extracted position, does notclose the whole opening (3): the unobstructed part of the openingallows, in the absence of the union (18), the grip of the segment (19)of the edge and, hence, the extraction of the lamina (4); The shaping ofthe lamina (4) and its interaction with the edge of the opening (3) inthe succession of transitory configurations followed during the spout(8) shaping phase, make the extraction not sudden, thereby reducing therisk of injuries. Thanks to the shaping and folding of the lamina (4),during the extraction the free portion of the perimeter of the lateralparts (7 a, 7 b) projects towards the interior of the can. Moreover,their surfaces remain inclined towards the interior of the can, untilchecked on the inner face of the lid (6). This allows, during theextraction, to let any liquid trapped by the lamina (4) itself, due tothe movements whereto the can was subjected before its opening, draininwards. In an embodiment of the present invention, in the portion ofeach of the lateral parts (7 a, 7 b) which, at the end of the laminaextraction phase (4), come to rest against the inner face of the lid(6), one or more holes (12) are obtained, of adequate dimensions and insuch a position as to prevent them from being involved during he orderlyoutwards flow of the drink. In this way it is possible to drain moreeffectively inwards any liquid which may be trapped by the lamina (4),preventing outward splashes if the lamina (4) is extracted too rapidly.In a preferred and more effective embodiment of the present invention,the lateral parts (7 a, 7 b) of the lamina (4) present means (13) forgeometrically interfering with the lid (6), such as to prevent it fromreturning into the can, once extracted, and to make the spout stable(8). This also makes stable the intimate contact obtained between theinner surface of the lid (6) and the part of lamina (4) which remainsinside, by effect of the check subsequent to the extraction. Thiscontact, together with the continuity and hermetic seal of the union(11) to the inner surface of the lid (6), guarantee that, during theoutflow, no spillage or release of the drink outside the spout (8) willoccur. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the geometricinterference means (13) are obtained along the free lateral edges (14 a,14 b) of the spout (8), and are constituted by at least twocorresponding interference elements (15 a, 15 b), elastically movablefrom a first position of non interference during the extraction of thespout (8), to a second extreme position of geometric interference withthe lid (6) of the can. These interference elements can be obtained invarious ways: for instance, by punching, if the lamina (4) is metallic.In a preferred and more effective embodiment of the present invention,the free edges (14 a, 14 b, 14 c) that comprise the contour of theopening (9), have a flap (10), towards the exterior of the spout (8)which rounds their edges. This constitutes, for the user's lips, acontact area free of injury hazards. The geometric interference means(13) can be obtained from the flap (10). FIGS. 2 and 4 show a particularmanner for obtaining the interference means (13), by slightly foldingoutwards the beaks of the flap (10), to obtain the interference means(15 a, 15 b).

The invention thus conceived can be subject to numerous modificationsand variations, without thereby departing from the scope of theinventive concept. Moreover, all components can be replaced bytechnically equivalent elements.

In practice, modifications and/or improvements are obviously possible,without thereby departing from the scope of the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tear-off opening device for a drink cancomprising a tab (1) with grip device (2) for tearing off, able to placein communication an interior with an exterior of the can, by means of acorresponding opening (3), a shaped lamina (4) being positionedunderneath the tab (1) and secured underneath a lid (6) for a segment(41) that partially surrounds the edge of an opening (3), whilst atleast a remaining segment (42) stays free, said lamina (4) having aconformation able to vary from a first stable configuration in which,with the can closed, it is drawn up underneath the tab (1), tosuccessive and transitory configurations that take place during anextraction of the lamina (4) through the opening (3) and to a finalstable configuration in which, with the extraction completed, the lamina(4) forms a stable spout with related opening (9) whose free edgesbelong to the free remaining segment (42) of the lamina (4), wherein thelamina (4) is ideally composed by three parts: a central part (5),corresponding to the opening (3) produced by a tearing of the tab (1)and secured to an inner face of the lid (6) at least along its ownsegment opposite to the one corresponding to the device (2) for grippingthe tab (1) itself, two lateral parts (7 a, 7 b), symmetrical relativeto the central part (5), each secured to the inner face of the lid (6)of the can for a certain segment of their perimeter starting from theunion of the central part (5); in said first stable configuration thelamina (4) being with its own lateral parts (7 a, 7 b) folded, in such away that the free portion of their perimeter projects inwards, allowingthe central part (5) of the lamina (4) to remain underneath the tab (1)itself; in said final stable configuration the lamina (4) having, whenthe extraction has been completed, at least its own portions of saidlateral parts (7 a, 7 b) in contact against the inner face of the lid(6), whilst the spout (8) comprises a bottom constituted by the centralpart (5) and lateral walls constituted by the extraction portion of thelateral parts (7 a, 7 b), the free edges of the bottom and the lateralwalls defining a contour of the opening (9) for an outflow of a drink,wherein the lateral walls (7 a, 7 b) of the lamina (4) have geometricinterference means (13) for providing geometric interference with thelid (6), such as to prevent it from re-entering the can once extractedand to render the spout (8) stable.
 2. The device according to claim 1,wherein the geometric interference means (13) are obtained along thefree lateral edges (14 a, 14 b) of the spout (8), and are constituted byat least two corresponding interference elements (15 a, 15 b),elastically movable from a first position of non interference during theextraction of the spout (8), to a second extreme position of geometricinterference with the lid (6) of the can.
 3. The device according toclaim 2, wherein the free edges of the opening (9) present a flap (10)towards the exterior of the spout (8) which rounds its edges and in thatthe geometric interference means (13) are obtained in correspondencewith the flap (10) itself.
 4. The device according to claim 2, whereinthe interference elements are produced by punching out a lateral wall ofthe lamina (4).
 5. The device according to claim 3, wherein theinterference elements are produced by punching out a lateral wall of thelamina (4).
 6. The device according to claim 3, wherein the interferenceelements are produced by folding beaks of the flap outwards.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein said free edges of the opening (9)present a flap (10) towards the exterior of the spout (8) which roundsits edges.
 8. The device according to claim 1, comprising a union (11)of the central part (5) and of the lateral parts (7 a, 7 b) to the innerface of the lid (6) constituted by a single continuous structure.
 9. Thedevice according to claim 2, comprising a union (11) of the central part(5) and of the lateral parts (7 a, 7 b) to the inner face of the lid (6)constituted by a single continuous structure, wherein said geometricinterference means (13) are obtained along the free lateral edges (14 a,14 b) of the spout (8), and are constituted by at least twocorresponding interference elements (15 a, 15 b), elastically movablefrom a first position of non-interference during the extraction of thespout(8), to a second extreme position of geometric interference withthe lid (6) of the can.
 10. The device according to claim 2, comprisinga union (11) of the central part (5) and of the lateral parts (7 a, 7 b)to the inner face of the lid (6) constituted by a single structurewherein the free edges of the opening (9) present a flap (10) towardsthe exterior of the spout (8) which rounds its edges and in that thegeometric interference means (13) are obtained in correspondence withthe flap (10) itself.
 11. The device according to claim 1, wherein,during the extraction of the lamina (4), the free portion of theperimeter of the lateral parts (7 a, 7 b) projects towards the interiorof the can and in that the surfaces of said parts are inclined towardsthe interior of the can, until checked by the inner face of the lid (6).12. The device according to claim 2, wherein, during the extraction ofthe lamina (4), the free portion of the perimeter of the lateral parts(7 a, 7 b) projects towards the interior of the can and in that thesurfaces of said parts are inclined towards the interior of the can,until checked by the inner face of the lid (6), wherein, said geometricinterference means (13) are obtained along the free lateral edges (14 a,14 b) of the spout (8), and are constituted by at least twocorresponding interference elements (15 a, 15 b), elastically movablefrom a first position of non interference during the extraction of thespout(8), to a second extreme position of geometric interference withthe lid (6) of the can.
 13. The device according to claim 3, wherein,during the extraction of the lamina (4), the free portion of theperimeter of the lateral parts (7 a, 7 b) projects towards the interiorof the can and in that the surfaces of said parts are inclined towardsthe interior of the can, until checked by the inner face of the lid (6),wherein the free edges (contour) of the opening (9) present a flap (10)towards the exterior of the spout (8) which rounds its edges and in thatthe geometric interference means (13) are obtained in correspondencewith the flap (10) itself.
 14. The device according to claim 8, wherein,during the extraction of the lamina (4), the free portion of theperimeter of the lateral parts (7 a, 7 b) projects towards the interiorof the can and in that the surfaces of said parts are inclined towardsthe interior of the can, until checked by the inner face of the lid (6).15. The device according to claim 9, wherein, during the extraction ofthe lamina (4), the free portion of the perimeter of the lateral parts(7 a, 7 b) projects towards the interior of the can and in that thesurfaces of said parts are inclined towards the interior of the can,until checked by the inner face of the lid (6), wherein the free edgesof the opening (9) present a flap (10) towards the exterior of the spout(8) which rounds its edges and in that the geometric interference means(13) are obtained in correspondence with the flap (10) itself.
 16. Thedevice according to claim 10, wherein, during the extraction of thelamina (4), the free portion of the perimeter of the lateral parts (7 a,7 b) projects towards the interior of the can and in that the surfacesof said parts are inclined towards the interior of the can, untilchecked by the inner face of the lid (6), wherein the free edges of theopening (9) present a flap (10) towards the exterior of the spout (8)which rounds its edges and in that the geometric interference means (13)are obtained in correspondence with the flap (10) itself.
 17. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein one or more holes (12) are obtained, ofadequate dimensions and in such a position as to prevent them from beinginvolved during an orderly outward flow of the drink, in the portions ofeach of the lateral parts (7 a, 7 b) which, at the end of the laminaextraction phase (4), are checked by the inner face of the lid (6). 18.The device according to claim 8, wherein one or more holes (12) areobtained, of adequate dimensions and in such a position as to preventthem from being involved during an orderly outward flow of the drink, inthe portions of each of the lateral parts (7 a, 7 b) which, at the endof the lamina extraction phase (4), are checked by the inner face of thelid (6), wherein said geometric interference means (13) are obtainedalong the free lateral edges (14 a, 14 b) of the spout (8), and areconstituted by at least two corresponding interference elements (15 a,15 b), elastically movable from a first position of non interferenceduring the extraction of the spout(8), to a second extreme position ofgeometric interference with the lid (6) of the can.
 19. The deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein one or more holes (12) are obtained, ofadequate dimensions and in such a position as to prevent them from beinginvolved during an orderly outward flow of the drink, in the portions ofeach of the lateral parts (7 a, 7 b) which, at the end of the laminaextraction phase (4), are checked by the inner face of the lid (6),wherein the free edges of the opening (9) present a flap (10) towardsthe exterior of the spout (8) which rounds its edges and in that thegeometric interference means (13) are obtained in correspondence withthe flap (10) itself.
 20. The device according to claim 8, wherein oneor more holes (12) are obtained, of adequate dimensions and in such aposition as to prevent them from being involved during an orderlyoutward flow of the drink, in the portions of each of the lateral parts(7 a, 7 b) which, at the end of the lamina extraction phase (4), arechecked by the inner face of the lid (6).
 21. The device according toclaim 9, wherein one or more holes (12) are obtained, of adequatedimensions and in such a position as to prevent them from being involvedduring an orderly outward flow of the drink, in the portions of each ofthe lateral parts (7 a, 7 b) which, at the end of the lamina extractionphase (4), are checked by the inner face of the lid (6), wherein saidgeometric interference means (13) are obtained along the free lateraledges (14 a, 14 b) of the spout (8), and are constituted by at least twocorresponding interference elements (15 a, 15 b), elastically movablefrom a first position of non-interference during the extraction of thespout (8), to a second extreme position of geometric interference withthe lid (6) of the can.
 22. The device according to claim 10, whereinone or more holes (12) are obtained, of adequate dimensions and in sucha position as to prevent them from being involved during an orderlyoutward flow of the drink, in the portions of each of the lateral parts(7 a, 7 b) which, at the end of the lamina extraction phase (4), arechecked by the inner face of the lid (6), wherein the free edges of theopening (9) present a flap (10) towards the exterior of the spout (8)which rounds its edges and in that the geometric interference means (13)are obtained in correspondence with the flap (10) itself.
 23. The deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein one or more holes (12) are obtained, ofadequate dimensions and in such a position as to prevent them from beinginvolved during an orderly outward flow of the drink, in the portions ofeach of the lateral parts (7 a, 7 b) which, at the end of the laminaextraction phase (4), are checked by the inner face of the lid (6). 24.The device according to claim 12, wherein one or more holes (12) areobtained, of adequate dimensions and in such a position as to preventthem from being involved during an orderly outward flow of the drink, inthe portions of each of the lateral parts (7 a, 7 b) which, at the endof the lamina extraction phase (4), are checked by the inner face of thelid (6), wherein said geometric interference means (13) are obtainedalong the free lateral edges (14 a, 14 b) of the spout (8), and areconstituted by at least two corresponding interference elements (15 a,15 b), elastically movable from a first position of non interferenceduring the extraction of the spout(8), to a second extreme position ofgeometric interference with the lid (6) of the can.
 25. The deviceaccording to claim 13, wherein one or more holes (12) are obtained, ofadequate dimensions and in such a position as to prevent them from beinginvolved during an orderly outward flow of the drink, in the portions ofeach of the lateral parts (7 a, 7 b) which, at the end of the laminaextraction phase (4), are checked by the inner face of the lid (6),wherein the free edges of the opening (9) present a flap (10) towardsthe exterior of the spout (8) which rounds its edges and in that thegeometric interference means (13) are obtained in correspondence withthe flap (10) itself.
 26. The device according to claim 1, wherein thetear-off tab (1) is secured to the lamina (4) in such a way as to allow,during the tearing operation, the automatic extraction of said lamina(4), said union being simultaneously sufficiently strong to allow thefull extraction of the lamina (4) and sufficiently weak to yield, afterthe extraction of the lamina (4) and the stable formation of thespout(8).
 27. The device according to claim 26, wherein said lateralwalls (7 a, 7 b) are folded in such a way that the central part (5) ofthe lamina (4), in a non-extracted position, is barely underneath andparallel to the plane of the lid (6), thus providing an ample contactarea to the tear-off tab.
 28. The device according to claim 27, whereinthe central part (5) of the lamina (4) in a non-extracted position,encloses the entire opening (3).
 29. The device according to claim 7,wherein said lateral walls (7 a, 7 b) are folded in such a way that thecentral part (5) of the lamina (4), in a non-extracted position, remainsbarely underneath and parallel to the plane of the lid (6), closing onlypart of the opening (3), in order to provide a grip for manualextraction.
 30. The device according to claim 7, wherein said lateralwalls (7 a, 7 b) are folded in such a way that the central part (5) ofthe lamina (4), in a non-extracted position, remains barely underneathand parallel to the plane of the lid (6), closing only part of theopening (3), in order to provide a grip for manual extraction.
 31. Thedevice according to claim 20, wherein said lateral walls (7 a, 7 b) arefolded in such a way that the central part (5) of the lamina (4), in anon-extracted position, remains barely underneath and parallel to theplane of the lid (6), closing only part of the opening (3), in order toprovide a grip for manual extraction.
 32. The device according to claim23, wherein said lateral walls (7 a, 7 b) are folded in such a way thatthe central part (5) of the lamina (4), in a non-extracted position,remains barely underneath and parallel to the plane of the lid (6),closing only part of the opening (3), in order to provide a grip formanual extraction.
 33. The device according to claim 8, wherein saidcontinuous structure is hermetically sealed relative to the drink.